Saudi Arabia-Iran Diplomatic Row

January 4, 2016

Violent protests in Shi’a-dominated Iran over the execution in Saudi Arabia of a Shiite cleric have led to recriminations by the Saudi Kingdom. The Saudis officially severed ties with Iran and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave the country. Despite having a majority Shi’a population, the Sunni-ruled country of Bahrain also announced it would cut diplomatic ties with Iran. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it would “reduce” its diplomatic presence in Iran as well. We’ll talk about the growing diplomatic row in the Middle East with Joe Kechichian, senior writer for the Dubai-based Gulf News. He’s author of numerous books on the Gulf region, including his most recent release, "Iffat al Thunayan: An Arabian Queen."
PHOTO: An Iranian woman holds up a poster showing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent opposition Saudi Shiite cleric who was executed last week by Saudi Arabia, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Allies of Saudi Arabia followed the kingdom's lead and began scaling back diplomatic ties to Iran on Monday after the ransacking of Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic, violence sparked by the Saudi execution of al-Nimr. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)